Minnow-bucket



N0. 750,143. 'PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904. T. B. WILSON & A. L. DAVID.

MINNOW BUCKET.

APPLIOATIOH FILED snr'r. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES THOMAS BADGER WILSON AND AIKEN LAWRENCE DAVID, OF EPES,

' ALABAMA.

Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT QE CE.

MlNNOW-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,143, dated January 19, 1904.

Application filed September 5,1903. Serial No. 172,162. (No model.)

tion, combination, and arrangement of parts,

hereinafter described and claimed, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is mainly a central vertical section of our improved minnow-bucket. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2, the minnowholder proper being removed. Fig. 3 is a detail section illustrating the connection between the air-pump and the body of the bucket. Fig. 4 is a section illustrating the valve attachment of the partition or false bottom of the bucket.

The body 1 of the minnow-bucket is cylindrical and provided with a removable cover 2 and a hinged bail or handle 3 in the usual way. The body 1 is provided with a horizontal partition 1, by which the interior is divided into two compartments, the lower one for receiving air from the pump 5 and the upper one for containing water and the minnow holder proper, 6. The said minnow-holder is a cylindrical receptacle provided with a bail 7 and having a perforated bottom 8. It has considerably less diameter than the body 1 of the bucket, so that it may be easily inserted and removed. The partition 4 is provided with a series of brackets or lugs 9, upon which the minnow-holder 6 rests, as shown in Fig. 1. A layer or stratum of gravel or sand 11 rests upon the partition 4 and occupies the space, or most of the space, between the partition and the perforated bottom 8 of the minnowholder.

The partition 4 is provided with a central opening and an upwardly/projecting nozzle 12. (See Fig. 4:.) A cap 13 is screwed upon such nozzle when the air-pump is not in use. A valve 14 is seated in such nozzle and provided with a spring 15, which normally holds it down upon its seat, and thus prevents water entering the chamber below when the cap 13 is removed.

The air-pump 5 consists of a small cylinder which is suitably'secured in vertical position to the side of the bucket 1 and a slidable piston 16, which is operated by a rod 17, provided with a suitable handle. The lower end of the pump-cylinder is connected with the body 1 by means of a small tube 18, (see Fig. 3,) in which tube is arranged a check-valve 19, which opens toward the body 1.

When the water in the bucket requires to be aerated for the purpose of preserving the minnows therein fora longer period,the screwcap 13 of the air-nozzle 12 is removed and the pump operated, whereby air is forced into the lower compartment ofthe bucket, and when it has acquired due pressure therein the valve 14 is raised and the air escapes upward, passing thus through the stratum of gravel or sand and into and through the body of water above the same. By this means the minnows may be preserved indefinitely.

The brackets 9 support the minnow-holder above or separated from the partition 4 by a space which is suflicient to allow the air escaping from the valved opening to distribute itself laterally to a considerable extent independently of the aid of the sand stratum, so that it enters the minnow holder at more points or places than would be otherwise possible.

It will be understood that the screw-cap 13 will ordinarily be employed only as a precautionary device when minnows are being transported, since the valve 14 will ordinarily sufl'ice to exclude water from the air-compartment below.

Experience demonstrates that the aeration of the water is effected with greater rapidity and more thoroughly by use of the gravel or sand stratum, and this is probably due in part to the fact that the particles of the layer offer considerable obstruction to the passage of air, and thus serve to cause the latter to take a longer and less direct passage through the water, so that more time is afiorded for absorption of the oxygen forming a component of the air.

In case it be desired at any time to remove more or less of the water contained in the bucket without pouring it out of the top of the same it maybe effected by means of a nozzle 20, having a screw-cap 21. The said nozzle is located near the bottom of the Watercompartment. It is to be understood that the partition or false bottomtmay be located very close to the true bottom of the bucket instead of being placed so high as indicated in the drawings.

In case water should accumulate to any great extent in the air-compartment it may be driven out of the same by inverting the bucket and operating the pump, whereby the Water, flowing by gravity onto the partition 4:, will be carried out through the air-nozzle 12 by the air-current forced through the same.

What We claim is 1. The combination, with a minnow-bucket having a horizontal partition provided with a valved air-nozzle, of a layer of sand covering such nozzle, and an air-pump connected with the body of the bucket at a point below said partition, whereby air may be forced into the lower compartment and through the valved nozzle of the partition and through the sand resting on the latter, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the minnowbucket proper having an air-pump attached and a transverse partition or false bottom provided with a check-valve opening upward, and a series of brackets, of a minnow-holder proper having a perforated bottom and resting upon said brackets, and a layer of sand interposed between the partition and minnowholder substantially as described.

THOMAS BADGER WILSON. AIKEN LAWRENCE DAVID.

Witnesses:

R. S. WINSTETT, A. G. SCARBOROUGH. 

